Tips for Planning a Rapid Emergency COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Response For:

• Organizations Supporting People with Disabilities
• Personal Assistant Services Users

Organizations supporting people with disabilities:

ADA Compliance with Visitations in Healthcare Facilities:  Coronavirus Pandemic Guidance for Advocates Edition 1, 2020 NEW  -Offers tips for advocating for visitations and working with healthcare facilities and state governments during current pandemic crisis about how to ensure healthcare facilities comply with Americans with Disabilities Act.

Excerpted from a longer article: Planning Checklist for Rapid Emergency Response for Organizations Serving People with Disabilities Edition 1.4 (2018) Rapid emergency response is in direct alignment with the core services and values of disability-focused organizations that engage in systems advocacy that protects peoples’ civil rights and right to self-determination.  This guidance and checklist are for organizations that support the health, safety, and independence of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Use it to evaluate critical elements of emergency response and recovery, identify areas needing attention, set priorities, and continue to assess progress.

• -Identifies emergency team
• -Identifies operations - who does the work
• -Identifies team back-ups (for line-of succession)

• So staff can telework remote and continual data backup is in place for essential records: client records, information, and referral resources and contact lists, service networks, employee data
• Designated staff know how to access data remotely
• Remote data access is tested

Alerts and Warning / Communication of emergency messages

• Reach out to individuals who may be less likely to receive, understand, or trust standard government messages using:
• -          Prewritten messages prepared for most common events, storms, floods, power outages, etc. (pre-tested for understandability and use of plain language) ready to be customized and finalized for relevancy to the event
• -          Messages populations using easy to understand language
• -          Use pictures in addition to or instead of text or voice
• -          Integrate needed disability-related content
• -          Use multiple ascb methods, such as:
• Websites
•  E-mail lists
• Phone trees
• Texts
•   Next Door app
•  Other
  


• Share important information (see below “Samples of information you may want to push out”).<>

Client Focused Emergency Actions - Assist people served in preparing for emergencies

Identify those who would be the most disproportionally impacted and likely to need assistance because they:

• -          Are dependent persona attendant (PA) support or other home visit providers
• -          Are not able to self-quarantine
• -          Are geographically isolated
• -          Lack support networks (relatives, friends, and neighbors)
• -          Are unable to get, use, understand or act on emergency alerts and notification systems
• -          Have no access to transportation
• -          Have multiple complex needs
• -          Will need food, water, oxygen, medications, power, equipment, and supplies
• -          Are least able or unable or to get to food, water, and supply distribution sites

Include these identified individuals on a “check-in list” so that if possible staff will try to check in with them before, during or after an emergency

Offer to assist with the development of personal emergency plans to include:

• -          Focus on an individuals’ functional needs (hearing, vision, mobility, speech, and cognition (thinking, understanding, learning, remembering)).
• -          Focus on no-cost and low-cost preparedness activities. 
• -          Identifying support teams and discussing plans with personal assistants, family and significant others
• -          Collecting emergency health information (for wallet) and emergency documents

Life-safety Checks

• -          Reach out to those pre-identified people check on their health, safety and to assist with needs such as:
• -          return to homes or temporary housing
• -          Delivery of food, water, medications
• -          Preventing and diverting inappropriate admissions to medical facilities and institutionalization
• -          Assist  those who end up in institutions to move back into the homes and/or communities of their choice

Community Partnerships, Connecting and Networking

• Establish and maintain working relationships with nearest police and fire station so they are aware of your organization and the people served
• Establish and maintain active connections with community partners (including those who have not worked together in the past)
• Partners should be inclusive of:
•   Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, health care coalitions and others who have as their major mission emergency work
•    Organizations whose missions in not emergency response but who can play critical role in supporting people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.
•    Broad membership from organizations “with, of and by” and “for and about” people representing the diverse disability organizations and advocates
•    Emergency services that are broader than just the emergency management department. They include but are not limited to:

• Aging
• Animals
• Behavioral health
• Businesses
• Children
• Disability
• Faith-based
• Fire
• Home health
• Housing
• Information technology
• Mental health
• Police
• Public health
• Transportation
• Utilities

• Clarify expectations, roles and resources
• Plans that establish Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act as building blocks upon which everything (processes, procedures, protocols, policies, and training) gets built such as:
• Inclusionary, accessible messaging and effective communication
• Website and social media access
• Meetings and public events accessibility checklist
• Press conference procedure checklist
• Public Information Officer coordination regarding communication access responsibilities
• Review of all elements that are inclusionary and not just those that are most commonly related access and functional needs, for example, early warning and notification, public information, evacuation, transportation, mass care, supplies, durable medical equipment and consumable medical supplies, etc.
• Review of standard operating procedures, checklist, guides and Just-In-Time training

Samples of information you may want to push out include:

Planning for when you have to remain at home due to the virus, isolation, or quarantine:

Plan for and learn how:

•  to fill prescriptions and consumable medical supplie needs early
• to access any 24/7 health lines provided by your health providers and health plans
•  to get help from health care providers if needed
• to reach out for assistance to community-based organizations, transportation providers, health plans, care coordinators, nurse hotlines, telehealth services, etc.
• to get food and supplies delivered
• to establish a regular phone check-in plan with family, friends,and neighbors
  

Develop plans with service providers who:

• make regular home visits (personal assistant, attendant services, home health, independent living counselors, etc.)
• remindthem to stay away if they are sick or have a fever
• is the alternative use of phone check-ins, video chat check-ins, use of neighbors for health and safety checks) an option?
• provide dialysis centers or chemo and other infusion therapy sites

Neighbor helping neighbor

• Neighbors helping neighbors is critical during times when federal, state, and local government are overwhelmed. 
• Talk with your neighbors about emergency planning.
• Share with neighbors regarding the help you may need as well as help can offer.
• Consider using the Nextdoor app, social networking platform for local communities and neighborhoods. Nextdoor app users can support each other in a safe way to share online the kinds of things you share with your neighbors in person. Nextdoor is securely encrypted using the HTTPS Internet protocol.  Every neighbor must verify their address in the neighborhood and use their real name. This app is one  way to communicate with neighbors during emergencies, as well as provide and get help with such items as food, household supplies, water, vitamins, and medications.

• Map Your Neighborhood is an old but impressive practice. Neighborhoods need to do the work, but during these next COVID-19 hunkering down and staying at or closer to home months, more people may have time to take the lead in doing this in their hoods. “How to” information is available at this link: https://mil.wa.gov/map-your-neighborhood.

• Neighborhoods that prepare for emergencies and disaster situations save lives, reduce the severity of injuries, trauma, illness, and reduce property damage. Besides, contributing as an individual and working together as a team helps develop stronger communities and improve the quality of life in the community
• The Map Your Neighborhood program guides you and your neighbors through simple steps to help enhance your preparedness for an emergency. These steps will help you to quickly and safely take actions that can minimize damage and protect lives. It can improve disaster readiness at the neighborhood level, 15-20 homes, or a defined area that you can canvas in 1 hour.  It teaches neighbors to rely on each other during the hours or days before fire, medical, police, or utility responders arrive.

Share helpful preventive practice reminders such as:

Follow everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, including colds and flu (most of these actions have no cost, those that involve costs have a *).

•   Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
•   Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
•   Staying home when you are sick.
•   Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
•   Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe (phones, remote controls, doorknobs, durable medical equipment, mouse, computer, speech generating device, other assistive technology, etc.).
•   Following CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.*

• CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
• Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

•   Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; when taking medications, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.* Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• For more information, see CDC’s Handwashing website and Hand-Washing Technique That Keeps You Healthy (includes a video) from Consumer Reports (2020), Video - The Right Way to Wash Your Hands

• It is important to have health supplies on hand including pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, and fluids with electrolytes.*

If you are ill:

• If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough or shortness of breath, and have reason to believe they may have been exposed,  call your health care provider or local health department before seeking care. Contacting them in advance will help you get care without putting others at risk. Tell your health care provider about any recent travel history.
• If available to you, use 24/7 Nurse hotlines and telehealth services to connect with healthcare providers and reduce the risk of infecting others.
• Example from Blue Shield of California - If you or someone close to you has a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please contact your doctor or hospital in advance and follow any procedures they have in place. You may also want to consider using virtual and home-based healthcare benefits such as NurseHelp 24/7 ^SM, Teladoc, or Heal™ to avoid spreading any illnesses.

Resources:

CDC's COVID-19 web page includes a number of resources, including specific guidance for:

·                     Travelers

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COVID-19 Preparedness for Personal Assistant Services Users:

Excepted from: Emergency Preparedness for Personal Assistant Services (PAS) Users, Edition 2.0, (2016) contains tips specific to individuals who use personal assistants, attendants, or caregivers. Planning elements include a checklist, support teams, communication, evacuating and sheltering, supplies, and resources that provide more ‘how-to” details. WORD

Have a support team in place: A support team made up of people willing to help each other in an emergency. These people include your PAs and others at places where you spend time, like your home, workplace, or school. If you create a large team, you are more likely to get help when you need it.

A support team can include your neighbors. Building relationships with neighbors can help when PA(s) aren’t there. Knowing your neighbors can be a strong security blanket. Before emergency responders reach you, the people who will make the difference can be those who live near you. Make sure you discuss with one another what each person can do in an emergency to help one another. You should also keep a list of your neighbor emergency contact information in your cell phone and your emergency kits (discussed in more detail below).

Talk to your friends and neighbors about how you can help each other if people in your households get sick or if your children aren’t able to go to school or childcare. Can you drop groceries off on their doorstep?

Plan for how you will communicate with my PA(s) and support team in an emergency via:        

o   Landline phone

o   Cell phone

o   Email

o   Social network

o   Text message

o   Other devices (e.g., a pager, two-way radio, ham radio, personal emergency call response system, other: _________)

Emergency Neighbor Contact List or Out-of-town emergency contacts listed in priority order (first person reached calls others on this list) (2015)

Tips for Emergency Use of Mobile Devices – Cell phones, smart phones and other mobile wireless devices like tablets are a big part of our lives. We rarely leave home without them and we often store important information on them. In a small or large emergency, they can be a communication life-line. Provides details regarding preparing your device to quickly get and give emergency information which includes a checklist, emergency contacts and documents, alerts, texting, apps, bookmarks of important mobile sites, “no service” backup plans, skill drills and other resources

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© 1998 - 2020 June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consu ltant, All Rights Reserved.
Created 11/8/97  |  Updated   07.19.20